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What Le Drian called a 'club' is open to any European Union nation that operates drones or intends to within five years.

The group was established at a meeting of European Union defence ministers in Brussels. France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Spain joined, the European Defence Agency said in an announcement.

Research: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) used for aerial surveillance is flying in the air

Three major European defense contractors - pan-European EADS, Italy's Finmeccanica and France's Dassault - called for a concerted effort by Europe to catch up with the U.S. on drone technology

French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, centre, speaks with journalists as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers

During its intervention this year against Islamists in Mali, France relied on U.S. drones as well as refueling planes.

Germany already uses unarmed drones, including the Israeli-built Heron 1 model, for reconnaissance purposes in places such as Afghanistan.

Last summer, German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said his country would work with France to develop a new generation of armed aerial vehicles.

'We have a gap in our capabilities that we would like to close,' he said.

The European Defense Agency said it will now consider military requirements, costs, technological capabilities and other factors, and draft a report that could become the basis of a European drone program.

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Europe forms a 'drone club' to develop unmanned aircraft to rival the US and Israel's military technology